Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Thursday, May 15 unveiled his political party, in an event marked with pomp, colour, but marred with violence at the tail end.

Gachagua unveiled the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) as the vehicle that will help him crisscross the murky waters of Kenya’s politics ahead of the 2027 General Election.

But during the launch at the party’s headquarters along Musa Gitau Rd, Lavington, Nairobi, Gachagua’s new-found political allies were conspicuously missing.

One such ally is Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka, DAP-Kenya Party Leader Eugene Wamalwa, PLP Party Leader Martha Karua, and even former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i.

For Kalonzo, he spent the day visiting the Judiciary Museum of Kenya to the Registrar’s Office to sign the Roll of Enrolment as a Notary Public, in front of Deputy Registrar Sharon Mwayuli and former Ambassador to the Hague Judith Sijeny.

“I was surprised and delighted when Ms Mwayuli showed me the registry that holds my signature on the Roll of Commissioners of Oaths on March 8, 1983,” Kalonzo said after his visit. “This was indeed a proud and nostalgic moment and I thanked the Registrar for keeping meticulous records.”

After the visit, Kalonzo was upbeat, vowing to return and spend more time exploring the museum, one of the legacies of former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga.

“In that moment, the words written by South African writer and anti-apartheid activist Alan Paton came to mind: “It is not “forgive and forget” as if nothing wrong had ever happened, but “forgive and go forward,” building on the mistakes of the past and the energy generated by reconciliation to create a new future.”

After visiting the museum, Kalonzo also had time to meet with Japanese Ambassador to Kenya Hiroshi Matsuura.

“I appreciated Ambassador Matsuura for not just attending the Reflections on My 20 Years in Diplomacy and 40 Years in Political Discourse event, but also for the vital insights he shared with me. I am looking forward to our next conversation.”

Today’s move seems off the script from opposition leaders who have shown open camaraderie in the recent past.

During the launch of Martha Karua’s People’s Liberation Party (PLP) on February 27, 2025, Gachagua, Kalonzo and Wamalwa attended the event.

The leaders have centred their messaging around making President William Ruto a one-term president, vowing to implement strategies that will see the Kenya Kwanza Government voted out in 2027.